favorites from 2017

here's a list of 2017 albums that managed to stick with me one way or another, in no particular order:

yuji kondo faces past 10 label
sarah davachi all my circles run students of decay
ena divided: mind horo
elemnt (felix k & DB1) elemnts hidden hawaii
loke rahbek & frederik valentin buy corals online editions mego
robert aiki aubrey lowe levitation praxis pt. 4 DDS
dopplereffekt cellular automatica leisure system
rainforest spiritual enslavement ambient black magic hospital productions

... consider this a not-very-thorough assessment; last year, i wasn't able to focus on music like usual, as i tried to push through a very difficult time in my life. one goal for me in 2018 is to get back to seeking out and enjoying and hopefully writing about more new music. i think the blog will remain on pause for the time being, but i'll still be doing some work at RA.

thanks as always for reading. see you around, maybe!

anatomy 28 - svreca

I'm really, really excited to be sharing this five-hour set from Svreca!

painting: Yuriko Shimamura

anatomy 28 catches Svreca in action at Tokyo club Unit, back in March, as part of a FRUE night celebrating his label Semantica's tenth birthday. Thanks to everyone who made this set (and recording) happen!

Svreca, AKA Enrique Mena, is a Spanish artist with a distinct musical vision. You can hear it in his sleek, meticulously crafted productions, his sophisticated DJ sets, and of course on Semantica, one of today's key techno labels. Semantica, now ten years old, has been behind more than 100 records, with offerings from artists including Cio D'Or, Abdulla Rashim, Stanislav Tolkachev, Skirt, Mike Parker and Svreca himself—like his excellent 2015 EP Narita, a journey through intense atmospheric techno, Sahko-esque minimalism and rained-out ambient, inspired by his time in Japan.

As usual for Svreca, this (nearly) five-hour set is carefully paced, intricately rhythmic and stuffed with depth and emotion. But first, here's some Q&A action:

Let's start with this mix—a recording of you DJing in Tokyo. Can you give us an introduction to the night?
This is a recording of my last set in Tokyo. It was a FRUE event: ~A Night to Celebrate 10 Years of Semantica Records~ at Unit. FRUE is the reason I started to play in Tokyo and Japan; they were the first to invite me in 2012, and have kept inviting me back since. This was another memorable night at Unit, a special place for me.

Special thanks to: Showgo, Yuriko, Dai, Wata, Koto, Tomo, Nodoka, Russ and Yuri.

You've done a lot of touring in Japan, and your time there was what lead to you making Narita. Tell us about your connection with the country.
The Narita EP was a very sincere, personal work. The intention was to put all the energy, memories and emotions from Japan into a 12-inch, and give it a very symbolic title. My other tracks have their own inspirations, but Narita is fully inspired by and dedicated to Japan, which captivated me from the first time I was there. I think this is a very common feeling coming from European people. For some reason I have a special link with Japan and Japanese people, and playing there leaves an impression on me that's stronger than other places.

Congratulations on 10 years of Semantica! What made you want to start a label? What motivates you as a label owner and curator? Has the motivation changed at all after ten years?
Thanks for the words. I started Semantica as a platform for Svreca, to build a profile together with my DJ activities. It's always a reflection of Svreca, on many levels.

My main motivation with the label is the music itself: my passion for music, design, architecture, fashion, and for arts in general; for every form that's able to create emotions. Motivations shift constantly, but I love what I do with Semantica and I will continue trying to improve with future releases.

When you are not working on Semantica, what are you listening to these days? What artists and labels excite you right now?
At home I listen to a lot of non-electronic stuff; things to sing, or funny and easy-listening music to enjoy with my son. I don't like to mention only a few artists or labels, my list would be too extensive.

How do you prepare for longer sets like these?
I usually try to think of an imaginary blueprint of the set. I take in consideration the venue, the soundsystem, the set time and length, the previous acts, etc, as each has a certain importance. I think a lot about every gig. I'm not a DJ who shifts drastically. I think of a DJ set as a very conceptual performance, and it requires some time for me to change directions.

A few weeks before this gig in Tokyo I played around seven hours at Garden, an underground club in Pereira, Colombia with a small capacity but with a special crowd. My blueprint of that set was similar, but real-time feedback from the crowd helps me when I'm DJing to move toward new and different places.

What are you up to next? Will there ever be a Svreca album?
I'm working on a few remixes and new Svreca stuff to be released this year and in 2017. A Svreca album will require more experience and skills, but also a great idea, or concept, behind it. I think it will take a few years...

Along with the anniversary series, are there other artist EPs coming on Semantica you can mention?
Yes, along with that series, there will be a double EP by Acronym and a new Exhibition Design by J.C. called Mugako.


... and now onto the mix, which Enrique is graciously helping to share on his SoundCloud.



Huge thanks to Enrique for a huge contribution to the mix series here (and thanks again to those in Tokyo whose work lead to this recording). I'm honored to have the opportunity to help spread this set. Check out Enrique's RA page to see where he's playing next, and here's another link to the Semantica Bandcamp page where you can check out much of the label's output.

This will be the last anatomy mix for now. Thank you to the artists who've joined the fun, and thanks to everyone who's ever stopped by!

anatomy 27 - stephanie sykes

it is now time for anatomy 27... with stephanie sykes in the mix!

born and raised in germany, formerly a longtime resident of manchester and now living in rugby, warwickshire, stephanie sykes makes a unique mix of atmospheric techno and otherworldly ambient drones. i first discovered her music in late 2014 when she appeared alongside fjäder on the very cool luna tactus EP for dasha rush's always-intriguing fullpanda records. last year, she put out her first solo record, one of my 2015 favorites, the haunting black simulation, via turkish label VENT, which also had rush appearing for a remix (i wrote more about those records over here), and the quietly majestic digital EP, too many goodbyes, through cenotaph records. this year she's already got a few more EPs in the works...

meanwhile, stephanie has also built a reputation for her skills as a DJ. she now holds residencies at birmingham's long-running techno party atomic jam, and at the jaded afterhours series in london, and in 2015 she scored some pretty big international gigs... look for that to continue in 2016, as she's already got four more confirmed for the next month or so, including debuts in malta and italy.

i'm really happy to be sharing this mix of fresh, perfectly-paced techno, which builds, twists and turns toward a mind-bending finish. yes - it is an excellent addition to the series. dig in, and update check the tracklist below:


(dropbox download link!)

Evigt Mörker - Ögat Av Regan
Chptr - Chtpr 01
DJ Deep & Roman Poncet - Exsurgence (Main Mix)
Abdulla Rashim - Red Pool
Ben Buitendijk - Equilibrium Two
Error Etica - Country of Thieves (RVO remix)
Modern Heads - Beginning (Claudio PRC remix)
Dorian Gray - Nyctophilism
Sleeparchive - Window 092 (Oscar Mulero remix)
RVO & Claudio PRC - Field 2
LDNWHT - VA ?
Deepbass - The Light That Never Was
SNTS - Olivion (Polar Inertia remix)


thanks to stephanie for sharing this great mix. i'm looking forward to seeing (and hearing) what she does in 2016!

(photo credit: modvs)

favorites from 2015

 

with my list of favorite music stuff from 2014, i cast a pretty wide net. this year (or last year, whatever), i've gone with a more to-the-point selection. these were the albums and EPs and tracks and remixes that i tended to revisit, again and again, more than anything else, in 2015.

LPs
cio d'or all in all semantica
sarah davachi barons court students of decay
abdulla rashim a shell of speed northern electronics
refracted through the spirit realm silent season
steve roach skeleton keys projekt / diophantine discs
raica dose further records
kangding ray cory arcane raster-noton
alva noto xerrox vol. 3 raster-noton
dasha rush sleepstep raster-noton!

EPs
stephanie sykes black simulation (w/ dasha rush remix) VENT
polar inertia kinematic optics DEMENT3D
stanislav tolkachev walk along the bottom semantica
svreca narita semantica
emptyset signal subtext
litüus 19805. -_ 19905, avian 
ivic in your rosary JSMË
SPR her eyes are an abyss JSMË & EP1 vis
felix k tragedy of the commons blackest ever black
various (ko-ta, artefakt, iori, kiyokazu hamawaki) body 1:1 mind tikita
ASC beneath the surface silent season
ena meteor samurai red seal
israel vines RMXD (silent servant, talker, BMG) eye teeth
max loderbauer & jacek sienkiewicz ridges recognition
birds of prey orphan anvil self-released

etc.
skymn "okuyi (korridor interpretation)" hypnus
kassem mosse / simone white "flowers in may" honest jon's
scarpa "pilgrim's plea" frozen border
claudio prc & ness (TGP) "icore (nuel remix)" outis music
stave "circle pit" repitch
the exaltics "instinct (dopplereffekt hubble constant remodel)" solar one music
sleeper cell "suffocate" lovers rock
marco shuttle "sing like a bird (reprise)" eerie
exos "áttfalt" thule
aaron 'fit' siegel "carmine" fit sound


... thanks, as usual, for reading. more to come soon!

anatomy 26 - amandra

surprise! here's another anatomy mix...

a french artist currently living in warsaw, poland, amandra crafts expansive, slowly evolving techno. he's one of the minds behind ahrpe records, a label that's been home to his two EPs - monkaunis, ahrpe's first transmission in mid-2014, and lutsin from earlier this year, which came with a very cool korridor remix - along with similarly hypnotizing stuff from fellow co-founder ovend and (recently) flogo.

amandra and i first connected many months ago, and i knew through his work as a producer and label owner that he'd be a great fit for an anatomy mix. with this nearly 75-minute dj set, he digs into a deep groove that leans heavily on older music, but also woven in are three resonating, bassline-driven cuts from his own next release, the drachme tolosate double EP that'll be come out on ahrpe in february. sorry, no interview or tracklist for this one... only sounds, along with some artwork from a photo amandra took in veracruz, mexico.

i'm looking for a new home for the anatomy series, since official.fm seems to be in the midst of a change in name and format. for now, you can download anatomy 26 through my dropbox link, and/or you can listen and download at amandra's soundcloud page. do it to it:


(dropbox download link!)

huge thanks to amandra for joining the fun. (and for being patient!) you can also grab a recording of his recent live set in warsaw over at soundcloud. over the next month or so, perhaps there will be a couple more anatomy mixes. until then, enjoy this one and look out for amandra's upcoming double EP... and as usual, thanks for listening!

reappearing

favorites from 2014

as i looked back at my favorite music releases from 2014, i realized it would be way too hard to trim down to a simple top-10 list like i've done with my previous yearly picks. there was just way too much good music, including, very happily enough, a lot of great ambient and experimentally-inclined stuff, to try and limit myself. so this time around, i've made three lists covering more than 60 total releases, and i'm keeping words to a minimum. first, a group of albums i loved and listened to more than anything else. then, a set of "honorable mentions" or whatever - great albums i discovered (and remembered) throughout the year, along with a few key reissues. lastly, another long list of some of my favorite EPs. also, i've included links to free full online streams (bandcamp and soundcloud) when i could find them.

i'm sure i've missed something, but for now this will do. in no particular order (and with discogs links for more info), my absolute favorites:

anjou - anjou 

kranky (discogs)  

 

vladislav delay - visa

ripatti (discogs) (free stream)

Ø - konstellaatio

sähkö (discogs) 

 

pan sonic - oksastus (live in ukraine)  

kvitnu (discogs) 

 

peder mannerfelt - lines describing circles 

digitalis (discogs) (free stream)

 

HTRK - psychic 9-5 club

ghostly international (discogs)

 

abdulla rashim - unanimity 

northern electronics (discogs) (free stream)

 

eric holm - andøya

subtext (discogs) 

 

kassem mosse - workshop 19 

workshop (discogs)

 

... and in alphabetical order, here's more great albums, including a few reissues, that are definitely worth a trip or two (or more).

alan backdrop - eria | ekar (free stream)

alessandro cortini - sonno | hospital productions

ambarchi/o'malley/dunn - shade themes from kairos | drag city

angel - terra null. | editions mego

black rain - dark pool | blackest ever black (free stream)

cloudface - untitled | opal tapes (free stream)

deru - 1979 | friends of friends (free stream)

dj sprinkles - midtown 120 blues | comatonse [reissue]
donato dozzy & nuel - the aquaplano sessions | spectrum spools [reissue]

the durian brothers - das macht modern | kontra-musik

efdemin - decay | dial

function : vatican shadow - games have rules | hospital productions

grouper - ruins | kranky
hands - the soul is quick | ecstatic (free stream)

imaginary softwoods - the path of spectrolite | archives intérieures [reissue] (free stream)

jo johnson - weaving | further records (free stream)

jonas reinhardt - ganymede | constellation tatsu (free stream)

kettenkarussell - easy listening | giegling

lawrence - a day in the life | mule musiq
lawrence english - wilderness of mirrors | room40

lee gamble - KOCH | pan

lucy - churches schools and guns | stroboscopic artefacts

millie & andrea - drop the vowels | modern love (free stream)

murcof & eric truffaz - being human being | mundo recordings

NHK'Koyxeи - dance classics vol. III | pan [december '13 release but whatever]

patricia - body issues | black opal (free stream)

perc - the power & the glory | perc trax (free stream)

sons of magdalene - move to pain | audraglint (free stream)

scuba death - nitrogen narcosis | further records (free stream)

talker - hari/LP | downwards

ulwhednar - 1520 | northern electronics (free stream)
various - collection | field records [compilation]

... lastly, a stack of very nice EPs that proved to be keepers, including lots of techno records. alphabetical order, again:

arkadelphia - new sun | NORD

bookworms - compact visual nature | NORD

broken english club - jealous god 04 | jealous god

casual violence - expression unrelated | plector

 

claudio prc - moderskärlek | trolldans

conforce - depth over distance | delsin

dasha rush - timid ocean drawings | deep sound channel
dscrd - panopticon | DEMENT3D

donato dozzy - dimensions | mental groove [reissue]

donato dozzy - terzo giorno | stroboscopic artefacts

drøp - vasundhara | arboretum

earthen sea - mirage | lovers rock

 

erika - hexagon cloud RMXD 2.0 | interdimensional transmissions

ESHU - chlore | ESHU records

grey branches - lower bounds | inner surface music

J&L - ramayana chant | ESHU records 
juho kahilainen - dyson sphere | M_REC LTD

ko-ta - festimask | tikita [reissue]

ligovskoï - dilip EP and remixes | DEMENT3D

 

max_m & fabrizio lapiana - 1002 | M_REC LTD

orphx - sacrifice | sonic groove

outer space - phantom center | editions mego 

phil moffa - elevation / ENO-UGH | most excellent unltd

PMH - entrance | finitude music

samuel kerridge - deficit of wonder | blueprint

sigha - the purification loops | avian

skarn - revolver | avian

stanislav tolkachev - right angle | semantica

surgeon - fixed action pattern | token

T.E.W. - eighteen | electronique.it

yuka - episodes of yesterday | silent season

various (stephanie sykes, fjäder) - luna tactus | fullpanda
various (etapp kyle, mod21, artefakt) - prologue portefuille 3 | prologue

voices from the lake - velo di maya | the bunker new york

wata igarashi - junctions | midgar

.... and that's that. lots of great music, i say!

if you've made it this far, thanks for reading! smilecoldanatomy will continue to be slow-moving for the time being, so feel free to follow me on twitter. i post fairly often there, including about music and art and science things.

end: 2014, begin: 2015

FIVE YEARS

on september 29th, 2009, i started smilecoldanatomy, which means this blog is now five years old! thanks a bunch to everyone who has ever found anything of interest here - music, words, art, whatever - and special thanks to the artists who've joined the fun and shared their sounds by way of the anatomy mix series. the next set will be coming soon, and i'm really excited to say that it'll be the very first to come from a US artist. stay tuned...

monday moods

it is now labor day, which will mean a nice and lazy monday... so here's all this:

LOOK OUT FOR A NEW CASUAL VIOLENCE EP the manchester DJ and producer of dark, abstract techno is returning with a new four-track EP, expression unrelated, on plector. you might already be familiar with some of the music, which was actually layered into casual violence's extra-twisted anatomy mix from late 2011. this is his first vinyl release in a long time, and there will be more coming soon... in the meantime, try previews of the plector EP, apparently due in late september, below/on soundcloud.


DIVE INTO THIS MYSTERIES OF THE DEEP PODCAST it's the 21st entry on the very nice new york-based podcast, and it's from the russian-born LA-based artists ed vertov and lena deen. this includes tracks from the likes of mika vainio, gas and aphex twin, which is a good way to keep me listening. very nice, slowly developing soundscapes here.


also of note: mysteries of the deep will also host an event in new york in october, featuring live sets from alessandro cortini and ricardo donoso. cortini, a member of the nine inch nails live band, put out an intriguing solo album on hospital productions a few months ago, called sonno. you should give this track "di passaggio" a try:


ALBUM FROM FUNCTION AND VATICAN SHADOW COMING SOON again on the ambient tip - and on that hospital productions tip - is a new collaboration from function (dave sumner) and vatican shadow (dominick fernow). the album is called games have rules, and it'll come through fernow's label on september 22nd. sadly no previews but it sounds like a promising collaboration... you can read about it here.

another event alert, this time for chicago: function will play smart bar in october to headline oktave's five-year anniversary event. more details here.

NOW DIGITAL: THE PATH OF SPECTROLITE the album from john elliott's imaginary softwoods alias, originally put out just on vinyl on amethyst sunset in 2011, was issued on CD by peter van hoesen and yves de mey's label archives intérieures a few months ago. now the artist himself has made it digitally available for the first time. check it out below/on bandcamp, where you can - and if you haven't yet, you must! - listen to it in full.


LISTEN TO THIS FELIX K MIX it's from earlier this year, for the experimental techno label diametric.'s podcast. you can only stream it, but it's worth your time: felix k, who in 2013 released his debut LP, the excellent flowers of destruction, turns in a 57 minute-long set that's mostly light on drums but heavy on moody, abstract ambient.

... AND THEN LISTEN TO THIS STANISLAV TOLKACHEV MIX two years old now, but still (really really) good. this set of all original material was recorded for the addicted podcast, and i can't even count how many times i've listened to it since it first came out. to me, tolkachev is uniquely talented, and definitely one to keep track of. if you're not familiar, this set is a perfect, free introduction to his sound. and oh yes... it can be downloaded!


OH, AND A NEW APHEX TWIN ALBUM IS COMING SOON you've maybe, probably heard all about it. the hype is almost suffocating and certainly a bit annoying. anyway, it's called syro, it's the first aphex album since drukqs (2001), and it'll come out on september 22nd. details, tracklist etc here.

... and that's all for now. happy monday...

coming in november: a new VLADISLAV DELAY album!

the best news for a monday morning: vladislav delay has a new album, visa, in the works!

compounding the excitement, this is being described as the first ambient album from sasu ripatti's longtime alias in more than ten years. it was crafted in just two weeks, apparently in the time period when ripatti *should* have been touring the US. unfortunately, like countless others, the finnish artist seems to have had "visa issues" and couldn't make it into the country. fortunately, he took the time to focus on new productions, and if the seventeen-minute "medley" he's just posted to his soundcloud page is any indicator, this sounds like it should be a good one...

visa will come through ripatti's newer, self-titled imprint on november 10th. you can find a short interview and a few more details at RA. now, listen in and get ready:

patty - process part 381 (no couples)

i am really, really excited to be sharing my contribution to modyfier's fantastic process series!

the title for this one is no couples; it's an all-vinyl set that might be softer and more relaxed than any of the others i've shared. along with the mix, i wrote an essay about myself and my music pursuits. you can read that here. and as is usual for the series, rayna, the mind behind modyfier, prepared some very cool artwork. finally, that's the tracklist below.

it took me quite a while to finally put this all together, and i'm very happy with the results. modyfier has been the source of so many great mixes over the years, so it's a pleasure and an honor to be involved and contributing my own set of sounds (and thoughts). thanks to anyone who's decided to tune in... i hope you enjoy!



tracklist:
Auji - Conclusion Came To You (Part 2) - Aniara
Rick Wade - No Place - Laid
DJ Sprinkles - Kissing Costs Extra - Kolour LTD
Orlando B - MK-12 - Yore
Steve O'Sullivan - Midnight Creeper (Extended) - Sushitech
Sven Weisemann - Amity - Mojuba
Deepchord - Electromagnetic Dowsing (Step 1) - S Y N T H
KS - Contrail - Stratosphere
Emmanuel Top - Addiction - Planete Rouge Records
Abdulla Rashim - Semien Terara 2 - Abdulla Rashim Records
Ko-Ta - Comptine - Stratosphere
Redshape - Violet - Delsin
Kassem Mosse - Workshop 12 B1 - Workshop
Moritz Von Oswald Trio - Vertical Ascent 3 - Honest Jon's Records
Alan Backdrop - Snit - Enklav

mixes: body boys, voiski, svreca

happy early wednesday morning! now, for your consideration, three fairly fresh and definitely dope mixes.

body boys - all city mix 005 to date the mysterious artist known as body boys only has a few credits to his name over the past year or so, but they've all come on opal tapes. most prominent is his growth window album, released in november - a strange trip through moody nocturnal ambiance that stirs in effects-laden vocal snippets. stream it in full here. this mix has body boys combining those introspective vibes with a range of head-down, lo-fi techno jams. certainly an artist to watch, methinks. (link)


voiski - melbourne deepcast 122 french producer voiski has a nicely growing catalog of productions. powerful, sophisticated techno has been the norm for his records, including particularly fantastic tracks like "ad infinitum" on his own label construct re-form and a recent cut on L.I.E.S., "wax fashion". for his contribution to the melbourne deepcast (which comes with a concise interview), he practically hits the ground running and never relents until the final sprawl of blissed-out synths. dynamic, raw, percussive and yet still hypnotic and emotional - very nicely done. (link)


svreca at trouw (amsterdam), june 28th 2014 this is a 72-minute recording of semantica boss svreca in action recently at the club trouw in amsterdam. svreca's stuff (tracks and DJ mixes) is distinctively sleek, tense, angular and atmospheric. his selections here are top notch, starting with that first one from antigone, and they come mixed and layered nearly to perfection. (link)


... and also, i recorded a new mix and it should be ready to share soon. look out!

ben frost, chicago, halloween!

this should be fun: ben frost will be coming to chicago on friday, october 31st. that's right, halloweeeeeeeeeeen...

a few months ago frost put out his latest album, A U R O R A, the sounds of which he's taking on tour. it's a challenging album, as usual, and one that sounds more futuristic than his other work, yet it has a curiously polished touch to it - but yes, it's still filled with plenty of distorted heft. i think i still prefer by the throat; i saw frost play live during sonar chicago in 2010, shortly after the release of that LP, and he had the seated crowd enthralled as he slowly let loose his swells of guitar noise and pensive beats. but the new album is still an interesting listen, so i can't wait to see how frost performs the new material live. the empty bottle-related show is happening at constellation, formerly known as the viaduct theater, and (though i'm not sure if i've ever been) i've heard good things about the spot. tickets and more details are right here.

also on the lineup with frost is cleared, a chicago duo consisting of michael vallera (aka COIN, an alias that's appeared on opal tapes) and steven hess (who's been involved with groups like pan-american and locrian). spaced-out, reverberated guitars and rattling, loose percussion seem to be the norm for the duo, as they've put out a trilogy of albums on the local label immune over the past few years. you can try all three at the label's bandcamp page.

so, it sounds like an interesting night. zoinks!

monday moods: stream for free

 

happy monday evening... now here's this: a list of musical stuff that's graciously been made available to stream in full online. some new stuff, some stuff that's a little older, all alphabetically arranged stuff. and if you like it, consider buying it!

cloudface - untitled here's some fresh jams from opal tapes. the seven-tracker comes courtesy of vancouver artist cloudface (aka david reynolds), who's put out a couple other very cool releases over the past two years. i suppose you can call most of what he does spacey, subdued, analog deep house, though sometimes the pace quickens, and other times it dissolves into ambiance. either way, nice. (link)


... oh and on that opal tapes tip, nyc label affiliate patricia - whose body issues i just had to blog about a few months ago - will be coming to chicago next sunday, july 27th! he's on the bill for body talk - free the body, a show taking place at the burlington. only $5 cover; keep it in mind...

dasha rush - "ocean shy" (video) the more ambient and introspective half of dasha's recent record for deep sound channel gets an official video. given the sounds involved, it's a suitably aqueous and dreamy trip. (link)

nuel - aquaplano ltd 01 there's been much celebration about the recent reissue of donato dozzy and nuel's aquaplano sessions on spectrum spools, but let's not forget this excellent 2010 solo release from nuel, whose textured, tribal, ambient-inflected sounds are likely imprinted into the minds of certain techno heads as well. over at bandcamp you can also check out his other, electro-leaning aquaplano record. (link)


... also here's some interesting to note: nuel seemed to have gone away in recent years, but following a solo live show at tresor in berlin a few months ago, he's now booked again in berlin alongside donato dozzy for an aquaplano sessions set, and their agency has announced they'll be "available for a selected few worldwide gigs"...

voiski - smoke machine 095 voiski is a french producer of intriguingly eclectic, often wonderfully evocative techno. this live set dropped through smoke machine at the beginning of the year, and it's still fresh. (link)


yuka - episodes of yesterday a brand-new digital EP on silent season, and what looks to be the most expansive release in yuka's catalog. it's a pleasantly personal journey with hypnotic drums, warm bleeps and field recordings. (link)

T.E.W. - eighteen

here's something fresh for your late monday (or early tuesday, whatever), a new EP on electronique.it's in-house label.

this one is a two-tracker called eighteen, and it comes from the roman duo T.E.W., which is short for Traveling into Esoteric World. what's up for offer here are two wonderfully melodic, slow-building acid/electro hybrids, both originally produced more than fifteen years ago. give them a try with the player below, and you can read more about the recordings, and the duo and their role as part of rome's underground electronic music scene, at the label's bandcamp shop.

RA.422 - abdulla rashim

hopefully you've tuned into alan backdrop's very nice anatomy mix from last week. now here's this, from another blog favorite... an RA podcast from abdulla rashim! it's a really dense and heavy set made up of a bunch of music made by the man himself as well as new/unreleased stuff from friends, including lots of northern electronics material. (and yes, there's a tracklist.) you should definitely go listen.

anatomy 25 - alan backdrop

alan backdrop has returned! and so has the mix series after a long hibernation...

(photo by ross)

as tuned-in readers and listeners might recall, i connected with alan backdrop, aka alessio, sometime around early 2011. he crafted the ninth anatomy mix, a lovely three-hour trip called anecumene. he's gotten steadily busier since then, and in 2013 a diverse range of his tracks were issued through a handful of labels, highlighted by his first vinyl credits and a long digital release for prologue (which i reviewed over on RA). on top of that, he's had some notable dj gigs recently, including two in london as well as his debut at tresor in berlin.

i'm really happy to welcome alessio back and have him taking care of anatomy 25, as it marks a nice milestone for the series. this mix is (unsurprisingly) shorter than his prior effort, but no less captivating. first, let's have a chat:

Hello Alessio! It has been a little over three years since we shared anatomy 09. What's up?
Hello Brian! Three years already... time flies so fast! Many changes occurred during this period, some positive, some not so positive. But in the end, I'm happy with what happened. And now I'm really excited to release the second podcast on smilecoldanatomy, the portal where I released my first podcast ever.

You seemed to be very busy releasing music last year, including a digital EP on Ekar Records along with your first vinyl EPs, for Motoguzzi and Enklav. How did you connect with those labels?
Yes, it was the year where one of my biggest dreams took shape. I finally experienced the emotion of putting a cartridge on vinyl and hearing my own music. For sure, one of the most exciting moments in my life. Actually the really busy year, where I produced a lot of music, was 2012. I spent a lot of time experimenting and trying to find a personal sound. During this process, a lot of tracks came out. Some of them, for obvious reasons, were released in the following year. So, I consider 2013 as the result of 2012.

I have known Motoguzzi Records through Cio D'Or's release "Kimono." Since I liked what they were proposing lately, I decided to send some demos. Gianmarco, the label owner, liked my music. So we started to plan. For Enklav Records, I met Dario (Chevel) at a friends reunion/course for analog instruments in Venice. We introduced each other. Then, things happened automatically. I really liked what he was doing with his label, so, when he proposed a vinyl release for me, I enthusiastically accepted.

Coming to Ekar Records, I have to say I'm really in love with that project. It was started by my dear friend and fellow countryman Enrico (Air Protection Office). We always respect and support each other, in music and in life. The collaboration was inevitable.

Of course, last year you also made your debut on Prologue with the seven-track digital release VR Plan. Tell us about VR Plan, and your connection with Prologue.
Prologue! Of course my biggest attainment. I started to buy their releases since the first one. Some of them marked my life and my path. Same for the artists who release on this label. So, you can imagine what it means for me. I had the pleasure of exchanging a few messages with Tom [label owner Tom Bonaty] a long time ago after he listened to a mix I recorded at my place. I think he kept an eye on me since that moment. I don't know exactly how, I just know that some years later he proposed for me a digital release on Prologue. I was shocked! We were supposed to release 3-4 tracks, but, since things were long to organize, I kept sending new tracks. "VR Plan" is the result of the selections we made.

How has being signed for appearances on those labels changed your approach to production? Or has it not changed?
It didn't change so much. Of course I feel a bit of "sense of responsibility," but I want to continue to make music freely. And luckily, I collaborate with labels which allow me to do that.

Can you choose one track that you are happiest to see released on vinyl?
Ramas. [youtube link]

Tell us about your recent gigs. And how was your debut at Tresor?

Recently I had a special night playing at Crime Room in Lecce. It was my first time in the south of Italy and I have to say it was really comfortable. People are so warm and hospitable... it was one of the moments where I felt proud to be Italian. The organizers put their soul and their heart in what they do and you can feel it, you can breath it. The atmosphere was really positive and people were dancing so spontaneously. So, what ask more? It was perfect.

The following night I played at my beloved UndiciZerouno in Mestre. Since it's organized by really close friends (The Noisemaker, Modes, Paola Donadi) and it takes place in the province of Venice, I can say I'm home. I missed that feeling. I had the chance to play a relaxing warm-up. Then, I really enjoyed the other sets from my friends and Stanislav Tolkachev, then in the morning I played back-to-back with The Noisemaker. Absolutely amazing! It was only the second edition, but there's an intention to start again in September. I'm so excited.

Last weekend I played at Dazed & Confuzed in London. It was the first anniversary of the party and I was so honored to be in the lineup with outstanding artists. I get goosebumps thinking about the atmosphere of the party and the music... I was totally amazed by DJ Pete's set. I couldn't stop smiling and saying to my friends "He is a monster." Then, when the sun has set, Marco Shuttle started a deep and hypnotic journey… damn, what a party! I could spend so many words, but I couldn't express the feelings I had.

My debut at Tresor was great. I was the first one on the running order, so, I had the chance to build the atmosphere inside the club before the door opening. I'm an emotional person, so this helped me to relax. I enjoyed every moment and every person who got in the club and came to the dancefloor. Plus, a lot of my dear friends were there, beside me. It was a really special night. About the performance... there's always more to learn! But I'm pretty happy because the people were following my set dancing and smiling. That's what I need when I spin records.

What's next on the music front for Alan Backdrop? (new releases, gigs, etc)
I confirmed a new release for Ekar Records. We are planning everything and it will be out really soon. I will play two sets (ambient and techno) at Freqs Of Nature Festival in Germany between the 4th and 6th of July. Then, I'll be in Belgium on the 27th of July for the Huismuziek party at Warehouse O'cool with Synthek.

Finally, tell us about this mix!
Since I know smilecoldanatomy allows me to be totally free, I decided to record a predominantly ambient/soundscape mix, imagining landing on a mysterious island, walking through it for some days, feeling all the emotions it gives you, and then, going back to the boat and leaving. I hope you enjoy the journey!



and that's that. 70 minutes of lush, patiently building, increasingly rhythmic ambient sounds. all in all another excellent contribution from alessio, and (i think) a good way to get the series moving again here. thanks to alessio for returning and doing a fantastic job with anatomy 25. it's been a pleasure getting to know him, and i'm happy to see his music reaching wider audiences. you can keep track of him on facebook and RA.

oh, and thanks to all the artists who have joined the fun here over the years, and to anyone who's ever found anything of interest here. i hope you enjoy this mix!

now hear this

it's a rainy grey evening here in chicago. here is some musical stuff i've been enjoying lately:

stanislav tolkachev at dommune he is one of my favorite producers, and i would say one of the most interesting voices in techno today. there's really nothing that compares to tolkachev's frenetic, polyrhythmic style, as far as i can tell. a few days ago he appeared on dommune to play an hour-long dj set of his own material, and unsurprisingly it's fantastic. fast, angular, sinuous, tense... fucking relentless!


yuka at tresor, august 2013 the globetrotting russian dj/producer (and like tolkachev, a fullpanda label affiliate) recently uploaded this recording of her dj'ing at tresor in berlin last august, for the fullpanda-focused party all you need is ears. included in the mix are raw, hypnotic techno tracks from the likes of dino sabatini, rrose and AnD (it's their track on krill music, a standout in a catalog that's otherwise meh to me). go to soundcloud or check it below.


DSCRD live at strichka festival this group, a key part of paris's tuned-in DEMENT3D label crew, construct dark and dense electronic soundscapes. about a month ago they played kiev, ukraine's strichka festival, and you can hear their live set on soundcloud... or right here.


stave - former (free remixes!) chicago producer stave turned in one of my favorite albums of 2013, reform, and later in the year came this pack of remixes of "tower 9," perhaps the most direct and aggressive cut on the album. my pick of the bunch comes from COiN, who has put out a few interesting solo releases on opal tapes. click here or stream below. ALSO: stave will be playing a contort event in berlin next month; i think (not sure) this will be his berlin debut. to any local heads reading this: i'd say his set should be a must-see.


... and you can also click here for bigger/better versions of that awesome photograph of the forbidden city. so, that's it from me for now. happy weekend!

listen to the lost CAUSTIC WINDOW album (aphex twin!)

apparently: in 1994, richard d. james - aka aphex twin - finished up a full-length album using the alias caustic window, which was to be released on his label rephlex. it was never given a full release, and it seems only a few test pressings were shared between the artist himself and some others. fast-forward to earlier this year, when a crowd-funding campaign was started in hopes of purchasing one very high-priced test pressing sold on discogs. that endeavor was a success, and those who participated in the crowd-funding were entitled to a "limited" digital copy of the album... which, of course, in the age of the internet (and youtube, depending on how mean they want to be to non-corporate users), means just about everyone can listen to it.

now, the one sad thing about this is the sound quality, which is good but not excellent. i'll presume it's a reflection of the current condition of the twenty year-old vinyl. (allow me to rant for a second: how the hell could you NOT keep this in pristine condition?) otherwise, this is pretty dope: an inimitable blend of IDM, breakbeat, techno, ambient and so on that james is known for. you can hear the whole thing via this youtube playlist, which is ready to stream below.



the whole thing is good but here's my quick picks: "flutey," "stomper 101mod detunekik," "revpok," and the absolutely awesome "101 rainbows (ambient mix)." oh, and if you really wanted this on vinyl, that test pressing - which is claimed to be, but seems obviously not, in mint condition - is 'available' on ebay...

more RA reviews

oh hey, more RA reviews from yours truly. i'll probably be doing this regularly, and add in a bit of extra opinion, just to make sure anyone who wants to be in the know is... in the know.

ducerey ada nexino - cycles, children & islands EP from an alias of yuji kondo, a japanese producer of dense, abstract techno. anything put out by kondo (or his collaborator katsunori sawa and their joint project, steven porter) is worth a listen.

oscar mulero - electric storm a mostly floor-focused record with so-so sigha and tommy four seven remixes. the originals win, but nothing special, i'd say.

dasha rush - timid ocean drawings it's always nice to see/hear fresh tunes from dasha! there's two here: one a minimalist dancefloor burner, the other a moody ambient techno soundscape.

northern structures - crossing bridges even though the tracks sometimes it sounds a bit same-y, i really like what these guys are doing: carving out their own style of thick, serrated techno.

DSCRD - panopticon another conceptual EP from this group on the the french label DEMENT3D, which continues to be one to watch.

rupcy - utow solidly effective techno, though i do wish that last track (that weird one) was longer.

korridor - dyson sector NGC 224 atmospheric techno from sweden that veers away from the dance floor. the first track's really close similarities to mike parker's stuff aside, this is an interesting release.

donato dozzy - terzo giorno i bet a lot of people had been hoping for a dozzy-SA connection. first there was dozzy's abstract remix of lucy earlier in the year (he had help on drums from his friend and collaborator morphosis, incidentally enough!), now there's this, an EP notable for being one of dozzy's heaviest releases.

abdulla rashim - unanimity already said enough about this one... excellent album!

damaskin - kaona i liked his first record better, but there's some pretty solid, smooth acid tracks on this one. decent though not too stunning cassegrain remix.

drøp - vasundhara heavy experimental grooves from a new artist and label - all italians now living in berlin. there's a pretty monstrous remix from dadub, but the original tracks are compelling enough.


... and as usual you can find this and everything else over at my RA page here.

one last note, these images come courtesy of NASA astronaut reid wiseman, who's currently aboard the international space station (ISS), and frequently posting photos via his twitter page. (you can see the images, and expand them to their original size, here and here and here.) this is his first trip to space, and his enthusiasm is inspiring. these astronauts deserve the highest praise and respect for what they do. space is the place!